Following the success of "Operation Mousetrap" the 7^th Marines were pulled back to the "No Name" line in order to provide a solid defense against any other CCF attempts by emplacing all three regiments together with the KMC Regiment along the dominating ridges. The Communists had taken a terrible beating during the last two weeks of May suffering 105,000 casualties including 10,000 dead and 17,000 prisoners.

On May 23^rd the 1^st Marine Division again jumped off in the attack. The 7^th Regiment was on the left flank and pressed the attack northward with the 1^st and 2^nd Battalions leading the way. Enemy resistance, light at first, increased as the Marines gained more ground. By the 26^th the 2^nd Battalion had reached the southern bank of the Soyang river in the process overrunning an enemy ammunition dump and taking 27 CCF prisoners.

Patrolling a road in front of Dog Company, one of its platoons moved into a small gully to take a break and eat their assault ration for lunch. One of its Marines pulled aside some bushes to relieve himself only to discover he was facing the side of a large Russian built truck so effectively camouflaged it could not be seen from a few feet away. The truck was hitched to a trailer on which was mounted an antiaircraft gun. At the same time another Marine leaning back against an embankment felt something hard and, on clearing away some brush, found an 82mm mortar. A shout brought all of the patrol down on the deck with weapons cocked as two CCF soldiers walked out from the rear of the gully with their hands up. Prisoners and all the equipment were turned over to the regiment on return of the patrol.

On May 30^th Dog Company, as one of the lead companies, was digging in for the night on a ridge overlooking a long, wide valley. Just before dark fell they reported sighting two large enemy truck convoys in the valley headed toward them. The convoys extended for a mile at a distance of four to five miles from their position. The artillery forward observer (FO) with the Company requested that "all possible" artillery fire be brought to bear on the convoys and the Division HQ, recognizing a unique opportunity, calculated and arranged for a "Time on Target" using every artillery piece available to them to fire in a manner that would have all shells reach the target at the same time in a mixture of air and ground bursts. The Marines of Dog, listening to the artillery pieces to their rear firing at their differently calculated times, held their breath as the FO counted off the time for the shells to reach the convoy. Suddenly the valley in front of them erupted in one large explosion as thousands of artillery shells simultaneously detonated across the width and down the length of the valley. The two large convoys simply ceased to exist.

Early June saw a continuation of the attack to regain ground east of the Hwachon reservoir. After moving into positions on high ground near the reservoir the 2^nd Battalion was relieved by the 3^rd Battalion, 1^st Marines and moved to a reserve assembly area where Dog was able to relax, refurbish and re-supply for a period of four days. On our arrival at the reserve area, we got our first hot meal after 73 continuous days of living on C rations. The meal consisted of grilled steaks and mashed potatoes and would have been wonderful if we hadn't had to eat it in a pouring rain with no cover and nowhere to sit except on the muddy ground. Even so it was greatly appreciated except for the aftermath. There were so many upset stomachs that the Battalion doctor rated the entire 2^nd Battalion as only 50% effective the next day.

On June 9, we led the Battalion back into the attack against light resistance and accounted for 3 enemy KIAs and took 6 POWs. Enemy resistance became heavy especially from mortars and 72mm recoilless rifle fire as the Company advanced with the Battalion northward along the Sochon River valley toward the mountainous ridges of the Kansas Line. At one point we were directed to ford the river which was about 100 yards wide, shallow with fast moving cold water and a bottom consisting of rocks and boulders. With its 1^st Platoon in the lead the company was strung out across the river when it was suddenly hit with heavy and continuous artillery fire. With no cover available either on the rocky shore or in the water, the men of Dog had to hit the deck and hope for the best. When the fire lifted after five or six minutes they had suffered 1 KIA and a number of wounded. Over the next three days the Company continued to advance against heavy resistance receiving continuous mortar and artillery fire and casualties started to mount. On the 10th alone, we had 1 KIA and 22 WIA's including two platoon leaders. By the 12^th we were forced to stop our advance and hold in position while the other companies of the Battalion traversed our rear and continued the attack from the flanks. First thing on the morning of June 13^th the 2^nd and 3^rd platoons of Dog Company accompanied by tanks advanced toward Objective 8. The tanks were stopped by land mines but the two platoons continued until pinned down by heavy small-arms and automatic-weapons fire while partway up the eastern slope. The platoons had to partially withdraw to enable supporting fires to be called for. A second attempt brought the same result but by then other units of the Battalion had caught up with Dog's flank in attacking Objective 8 Able and the combined effort finally attained both objectives.

The remainder of June and July found Dog continuing with the 2^nd battalion in its march to the north advancing into the Punchbowl of eastern North Korea. In addition to heat, rain and bugs, every day had the Marines slogging their way up and down the hills to and across the Kansas Line some 20 miles north of where they had started from in late May. Every day brought the same routine - saddle up and move to the next objectives or dig in on an assigned objective and patrol from 2 to 5 miles in front of the 1^st Marine Division lines. Resistance by the NKPA and the CCF varied. During one such move, while walking along a gravelly road the 60mm mortar platoon, in the middle of the Company column, was suddenly hit by three 75mm artillery shells. The first two were duds giving the platoon time to dive off the shoulders of the road but one detonated near one squad causing three WIAs and severely damaging one of the 60mm mortar tubes.

Although most resistance was light, the enemy still not having recovered from their heavy losses during their Spring offensive, there were the occasions when a resolute enemy unit would try their best with small arms, automatic weapons, mortar and artillery fire to hold on to some part of the high ground.

On July 15^th the entire 1^st Marine Division was relieved with all of its units moving into assembly areas in X Corp's rear lines. This was the first time since August 2, 1950 that the Marines were not on the firing line for more than a few days. Dog Company spent their time in the rear with the rest of the 7^th Marines in vigorous training and assisting in the construction of defensive positions in the Yanggu sector. Some members of the Company were assigned to help train units of the KMC and one platoon spent a week guarding a secret Air Force installation

Finding themselves in an area surrounded by rear echelon army personnel the Marines enabled themselves of another tradition they were noted for, something the army hated - scrounging for things they did not have. Within a few days almost the entire Company was equipped with pack boards to replace their horribly inefficient field packs and had managed to acquire a complete squad tent, a small truck and an electric generator the new owners of which declared they had obtained it so Skipper Mackin could have an electric light. The tent, truck and generator had to be returned to their original owners but the Company refused to acknowledge that they had any pack boards. One morning an Army Major pulled up in front of the Company CP in a jeep and demanded to see the Company Commander about these items missing from adjacent Army units. While he was meeting with the Skipper someone stole his jeep.

Throughout this period in reserve the Company took part in numerous patrols in the area and, on July 10^th gave a Company Night Defense and Final Protective Line Fires demonstration to members of the 1^st Marine Division HQ and a number of UN VIPs.

July 25^th was momentous for two reasons. It was the anniversary of the start of the Korean War and it was also marked the commencement of truce negotiations at Kaesong. Requested by the NKPA and agreed to by the UN the talks were less for the purpose of bringing the war to an end than to give the North Koreans and their Chinese Allies a breathing period to lick their wounds while they re-supplied and rebuilt their capabilities.

On August 27^th the Red delegates walked out of the truce talks and the war was back on. The 7^th Marines moved out of their reserve positions on the 26^th and, together with the 5^th Marines, were ordered to relieve friendly units on the Kansas Line east and south of the Punchbowl. The movement was accomplished by trucks, often in torrential rains, with the valleys and hillsides slick with mud. Dog Company arrived at their unloading point in the early hours of the morning on 8/27 and found they had to cross the Soyong River in order to reach their assembly area. Most of the ground was under a foot of water and the river was unfordable with rushing waters reaching more than shoulder high. It took until the 29^th for the crossing to be achieved and then only until a sufficient number of DUKW vehicles were available. By the 30^th, Dog Company had helped relieve the ROK units in their sector of the line and received orders to commence the attack at 0600 on the 31^st to take Hills 1026 and 924 that were part of the YOKE, a long east-west ridge just north of the Kansas Line.

The attack was led by two KMC Battalions and immediately ran into problems as they found themselves on terrain covered with numerous land mines, both those emplaced by the enemy and ones left by friendly forces. Dog Company with the second Battalion followed the KMCs as all units started receiving increasingly heavy resistance. Intelligence indicated that the enemy had moved two to three regiments with artillery and supplies into the area. As the battle for the YOKE continued additional units from the 5^th Marine Regiment were added and it was not until September 3^rd that the two objectives on the YOKE were declared secure. A number of counterattacks had been beaten off and, as a measure of the intensity of the fighting, the 1^st Marine Divisions Artillery Regiment reinforced by three Army artillery battalions had fired a total of 8,400 artillery rounds in one twenty-four hour period.

On the 3^rd the Company sent a squad sized patrol from the 1^st Platoon to its front. The patrol reported taking three POW's and a short time later walked into a mine field and suffered three WIA's and one KIA. The patrol was able to withdraw and evacuate its wounded and the POW's but could not reach the KIA and reported it could not remove him without mine detecting equipment. Recovery parties were sent out on the 5^th and 6^th and were finally able to recover the KIA after the removal of four mines.

In the meantime, by September 4 the Company had dug in on the ridge with its Battalion and those of the KMCs under intermittent enemy mortar fire, consolidating the Hayes Line. Intensive patrols were then conducted to determine the extent of the enemy's defensives that had so cunningly been emplaced and reinforced during the breathing spell given them by the aborted truce talks.

After a lull of six days in the advance to the north, the Division issued orders for the 7^th Marines to jump off at 0300 on Sept. 11 to attack and take objectives Able (Hill 673) and Baker (Hill 749). The initial attack was to be made by 1/7 against Hill 623 and 3/7 was to secure an adjacent Hill 602. Our role with other elements of 2/7 was to patrol on the left flank of the Regiment's advance.

The attacking Companies of the 1^st and 3^rd Battalions immediately ran into trouble. After heavy fighting, with the North Koreans delivering mortar, artillery and machine gun fire and twice counterattacking from concealed bunker positions, the lead elements were pinned down and consolidated their positions for the night. With his attack in trouble, Col. Nickerson, commanding the 7^th, ordered the 2^nd Battalion to make an unusual move. With Dog and Easy Companies in the lead the Marines moved under the cover of darkness into the narrow valley around the left flank of the 3^rd Battalion in an attempt to get into position past and behind the enemy before wheeling to the northeast to trap the North Koreans on Hill 673. With Easy on the left along the valley's edge and Dog on its right moving as silently as possible, the maneuver succeeded with two platoons making it to positions at the spurs leading to 749 behind the enemy on 673.

At 0500 on the morning of the 12^th Dog and Easy Companies complying with a Regimental frag order began their move toward 749 with the Battalion's 81mm mortar platoon following them while Fox Company remained in their night defensive positions near Hill 602. Due to the confusion resulting from the "fog of war" and some bad instructions from our Battalion's S3, the 81mm Mortar Platoon had been ordered to take positions in the same valley. On their arrival they found there were no friendly troops in front of them and none on the ridge to their left. Making do as best they could under the circumstances they used part of the platoon as infantry to occupy positions to their front and left flank and put their guns in place, sighting them in on the valley and its sloping sides.

At first light an air strike was called on the summit of 749 with what appeared to be very good results. However, as the attack continued toward 749, mine fields and increasing resistance made it difficult for the companies to advance and also to form a junction. Especially dangerous were the large number of wood foot mines that the enemy had shallowly buried on all the approaches and trails leading to the hill.

A second air strike was delivered on 749 but forward movement by the lead elements continued to be difficult and Fox Company was ordered into the battle to support Dog and Easy. Although caught between the three advancing 2nd Battalion companies and the lead elements of the 1^st Marine Regiment attacking from the right, a large number of enemy troops put up a desperate fight on the wooded and heavily fortified slopes of Hill 749 with both Dog and Easy subjected to a number of counterattacks. The enemy was putting up a much greater resistance than expected and was doing so from heavily fortified bunkers that covered each other by interlocking fire - much like the fortified positions faced by Marines during the war in the Pacific.

At midday Dog was ordered to send a platoon to the company's right flank and destroy enemy troops that were firing into a draw below Hill 749 and impeding the advance of elements from the 1^st Marines but fifteen minutes later that order was canceled and Fox Company, which had been in Battalion reserve, was committed and ordered to attack Hill 702 that was located to the right of Dog. Fox succeeded in reaching their objective but came under intense fire. Fox moved to the forward slope of 702 on another ridge leading to 749 and the Battalion command group moved to the rear of 702 from which observers saw seventy enemy moving toward 749 from an adjacent hill. Artillery fire was called for with moderate results. Two 82mm mortars were also spotted and an air strike destroyed them with rocket fire. Attempts of Dog and Fox to make contact with each other failed and, as darkness fell, Easy and Dog were tied in and continuing to receive heavy small arms, automatic weapon and mortar fire. Both companies began digging in for the night. Fox continued to attempt moving forward and closing the line with Dog but was stopped when forced to repulse a counterattack. Fox then also dug in without being in contact with anyone else. Throughout the day, the 81mm mortar platoon had supported the rifle companies with fire from its exposed position in the valley on the left flank.

During the night an Easy Company platoon leader reported hearing movement in the valley to their left - men talking in Korean and equipment making noise. The platoon leader very quietly called the 81 mortars on his radio. The mortar platoon fired a large number of rounds in a pattern that was fifty yards wide and started 100 yards down the narrow valley with the fires walked back to almost their own position with the gun tubes almost vertical. When the firing stopped the platoon could hear screams and cries for help. At daylight it was determined a sizable enemy force had tried to penetrate to our rear through this approach avenue but were caught by complete surprise in the narrow valley. The men of the mortar platoon breathed a great sigh of relief realizing that the enemy had advanced to just a few yard directly to the front of their positions.

Early on the 13^th the attack resumed with all units continuing to receive heavy defensive fires from well concealed and massive, camouflaged enemy bunkers. The 1^st Marines had been ordered to attempt relieving our 2^nd Battalion during the day. Dog continued to attempt reaching and making contact with Fox without success. Shortly before noon elements of the 2^nd Battalion, 1^st Marines made contact with Fox and began relieving them. By noon their relief was completed and they started moving to the valley to their rear. In the meantime, Dog called for an artillery mission on 749 and continued the attack while under heavy 82mm mortar and 76mm recoilless rifle fire. A POW captured by Dog identified the enemy as the 3^rd Regiment, 1^st Division, II N.K. Corps and that they had been reinforced with fifty-five replacements during the night. Contact with the 1^st Marines was finally made and the relief of Dog and Easy Companies was accomplished by early evening with all units still under enemy mortar and artillery fire. Once disengaged, we joined the rest of the Battalion that had been moved into Regimental reserve.

This action was typical of the difficulty we had in dealing with the Korean terrain, a problem that was further exacerbated by an ill-conceived plan of our Battalion Operations Officer (S3). Ordering the 81mm platoon to take positions that were completely unprotected was in violation of basic tactical doctrine and the attempted complicated movement of all three companies under heavy enemy fire and over separate narrow approaches and against heavily bunkered positions led to disordered communications; all further made difficult by the attempts relieve the Battalion while its companies were in direct engagement with the enemy.

The fight for Hill 749 continued for another two days. When finally secured the Marines couldn't help admire how hard the enemy had fought. The numerous bunkers that supported each other by interlocking fires were heavily built and on a number of occasions the NKPA commanders called their own mortar fire down on themselves. Their defensive positions were so situated that they could bring flanking fire on all the ridges leading to the summit. We did not recognize it at the time but that engagement was a sign of how the rest of the war was going to be conducted. The 1^st Marine Division suffered 90 KIA, 714 WIA and 1 MIA during the four day battle while the NKPA losses were 771 counted KIA although twice as many were estimated, 81 prisoners and an untold number of WIA. Our Company, during its two and one-half day's struggle on the hill, had four KIAs and fifty-two WIAs"

Following the seizure of 749 the Division continued the attack to the next high ground, Hill 812, known as "The Rock". Once it was secured and, although the division had been assigned additional objectives even further to the north, they were called to a halt and ordered to start preparing defensive positions. Dog Company spent the remainder of September in reserve but hardly as a period of rest. Numerous daily patrols, both foot and motorized, were conducted by all units of the 2^nd Battalion in continuing to secure the area assigned to the regiment.

Going into October it became obvious that the war had taken a dramatic turn. The fight for Hills 749 and 812 were the last that were fought by a "mobile" Marine force. The Chinese and NKPA until then had been willing to give up terrain when heavily pressed but had now started fighting with determination from well prepared positions and counterattacking repeatedly to drive us back when those positions were threatened. Very likely they were attempting to retain as much territory as possible while negotiating for a ceasefire. From now on we would be engaged in "warfare for position".

By the first of October the U.N.'s defensive line that stretched across the Korean peninsula had been well established. It consisted of 16 Divisions organized into 3 Corps composed of 8 ROK divisions, 7 U.S. divisions and 1 British division - a total of approximately 600,000 troops. Facing them were 600,000 North Koreans and "Volunteer" Chinese. The front line strength of the adversaries was also nearly equal - 195,000 for the UN and 208,000 for the enemy. However, the Communists had the tactical advantage of having more reserves with nine CCF armies of 235,000 troops and another 138,600 NKPA forces in four corps, all available for assault troops and reinforcements.

The 1^st Marine Division now occupied the high ground along thirteen miles of an area that was located at the eastern end and the furthest northern part of the Main Line of Resistance (MLR) that had been designated the "Minnesota" line.

While the rest of the Division engaged in their mission to "organize, construct and defend" this MLR, Dog Company was in reserve together with the entire 7^th Marine Regiment at Wontong-Ni seventeen miles behind the front line. The distance from the front did not remove the Company from harm's way. It was estimated that there were in excess of 7000 enemy guerillas operating behind our MLR and there were days that our Company and other Marine units in reserve had more engagements with the enemy than did those troops on the line. Supply convoys and other traffic were frequently attacked outside of Battalion perimeters, especially at night. The daily patrols to safeguard the area between perimeters came under frequent automatic and semi-automatic weapon fire. And occasionally Marines within perimeters were killed by North Korean troops who had hidden in position while the Marines settled in. Two of the enemy were found in a small, dirt cave at the edge of a rice patty in the middle of Dog Company's position. When discovered they were easily captured having had no food or water for days. Anyone on foot or in vehicles while crossing what was thought to be safe terrain was subject to fire from hidden snipers.

The time in reserve was spent in training, re-equipping, inspections, awards ceremonies, constant patrolling, and all kinds of necessary work such as felling trees for producing logs that could be used for bunker building at the MLR. But all good things must come to an end and on October 11^th Dog Company joined the rest of the 7^th Regiment in relieving the 5^th Marines in the center of the Minnesota Line. Our Battalion and the 1^st did so in the conventional way - by truck convoy and on foot while 3/7 completed their move by helicopter. It took 156 flights to accomplish this historic feat; the movement of a large combat unit in this fashion, being the precursor of the unique Marine Corps tactic of "vertical envelopment".

In view of the amount of ground assigned, Dog Company was reinforced by one platoon from Item company of the 3^rd Bn., one section of Heavy Machine Guns, one squad from the 75mm Recoilless rifle platoon and a 4.2 mortar forward observer. Now started a period of constant patrolling, the establishment of platoon size patrol bases in front of the line and the setting of ambushes along roads and other avenues of approach to our forward positions. On 17 October, Dog called for an air strike on a rock formation in front of their positions that was blocking their view and fields of fire. The flight made four runs firing Tiny Tim rockets at the target but were unsuccessful in destroying the target. During the night of the 17^th, a Dog squad in an ambush position captured one enemy soldier. Early the next day the Company sent a reinforced platoon on a patrol deep into the terrain to our front. At 0930 they ran into a mine field and suffered two WIAs. Continuing to press forward they began receiving heavy automatic and semi-automatic weapon fire in addition to five rounds of 82mm mortar from enemy located in sturdily constructed bunkers. It was obvious that the enemy's MLR had been found.

The actions of the 17^th and 18^th were repeated on a daily basis. In addition, our lines were under daily attack by mortar and artillery fire. We retaliated with artillery, air strikes, radar controlled bombing, aggressive patrolling, tank-infantry raids and naval gunfire from the USS New Jersey and the USS Toledo. On 22 Oct. Dog had 4 WIAs and 1 KIA from artillery fire and on the 27^th 1 WIA from mortar fire and 1 WIA from an enemy sniper. On the 29^th the 2nd Battalion was relieved and moved to a bivouac area behind the front line. When the Marines were first ordered to move up to the MLR the Division Commander directed them to "fight the enemy whenever possible". They did so with evident success, resulting in, for the period from 11 to 29 October, reports by the Division of 709 counted enemy killed and 2,377 estimated, 4,927 estimated enemy WIAs and 571 prisoners.

During this period the Dog Company Commander was Captain John H. Chaffee, later to become Governor of Rhode Island, then Secretary of the Navy and then a U.S. Senator from Rhode Island.

Dog had celebrated the Marine Corps birthday on 9 November while still in bivouac as the entire Division blasted the enemy with all its supporting arms including fires from the cruiser USS Los Angeles and an air strike of 83 Marine aircraft. The Marines on the line added to the celebration with tanks, mortars and machine guns. When the fires ceased, ten NKP troops crossed the line and surrendered. After nineteen days in reserve, Dog Company (Reinforced) with the rest of 2/7 relieved 1/7 on the MLR with all three companies of the Battalion in the line.

The rest of the month was spent in squad size night patrols and an occasional daytime raid but mostly in observing the enemy and directing supporting arms fire on them. Both sides were now well emplaced in bunkered positions with a no-man's land between them. In the meantime peace talks had again commenced at Panmunjon and a cease-fire was agreed upon and became effective on 27 November. While the Marines continued work on winterizing their bunkers, pressure was kept on the enemy through continuing patrolling. Most actions were by small units. Dog Company reported two probing attacks at their position on the 26^th by 5 enemy; three more probes on the 27^th, first by 6 enemy, then by 2 and the last by one by a single enemy soldier. That day they also saw 3 enemy on skis and fire directed on observed enemy movement and bunkers.

For the Marines of Dog this second winter was a lot kinder than the first. Although the weather was not much different, their equipment and the circumstances under which they fought the enemy had significantly improved. The 2^nd Battalion's Unit Diary for the month of December defined most of the activity with the notation "Routine Day". Maybe the headquarters' staff could so describe a day but, rest assured, for the Marines on the line there was little that was "routine" with each day a new adventure and cause for concern.

The 7^th Marine Regiment headquarters had established a Line Duck beyond which patrols could not advance but up to which the units continued their mission of capturing or destroying the enemy. Dog Company, with the rest of its Battalion, concentrated on night ambushes and patrols, maintaining daylight surveillance of their sector from observation posts, and the use of sniper teams and limited daylight patrols.

On 12 December the 2^nd Battalion was moved to positions behind the MLR and designated part of the Division Reserve. Dog Company began a period of intensive training. A "routine" day consisted of six hours training with three hours conducted during the hours of darkness together with squad sized daylight patrols including helicopter patrols to flush out remaining guerrillas.

Christmas day saw that every Marine had turkey. Those on the MLR sent out nineteen patrols on Christmas Eve, two of which engaged in brief fire fights before returning at dawn. The USS St. Paul added to the festivities by firing 40 rounds of naval gunfire and destroying seven enemy bunkers. Through the acceleration of replacement and rotation drafts, by the end of December there were no Marines left in Korea who had arrived prior to January 1, 1951. Although the month ended without a single large-scale combat action, the Division suffered 24 Marines killed in action and 139 wounded.

Volume IV of "U.S. Marine Operations in Korea" had this to say, "The year 1951 passed into history at 2400 on 31 December as the 11^th Marines saluted 1952 by firing a "toast" at enemy strongholds. The thud of the snow-muffled howitzers was also a firing farewell to the past year of war that was not officially a war. Indications were that it would doubtless be concluded by a peace that was not a peace, judging from the attitude of the Communist delegates at Panmunjon. And meanwhile the Marines and other Eighth Army troops would keep on fighting in accordance with the terms of a cease fire that was not a cease fire."

The entire 7^th Marine Regiment remained in reserve until January 10, 1952 when it was moved back on the line, relieving the 5^th Marine Regiment. Facing Dog Company and its Regiment were now three NKPA Divisions that were continuing their different behavior started at the end of the year. The enemy was more careful in avoiding our outposts and ambushes instead they increased their mortar and artillery fire and expended a greater effort in improving their defensive positions, especially on the reverse slopes of ridges and hills.

The previous November had the negotiators at Panmunjom agree to a line of demarcation located between the UN and Communist forces. Labeled Line DUCK, it was drawn between repeated points of patrol contact by both forces and was not to be further than 2000 yards beyond the UN's MLR. In December this agreement had been renewed to remain in effect for an indefinite period of time. It ran roughly parallel to the MINNESOTA Line and it was agreed that no operations on our part were to take place beyond it without Corps approval.

With these lines drawn our Company with the rest of the UN forces began its "warfare in position". The concept was contrary to all of the Marine's offensive training and instead "careful reconnaissance, detailed planning, and minimal risks - these were the elements of defensive tactics in which large forces had to content themselves with small gains" (U.S. Marine Operations in Korea Vol. IV).

So, having relieved the 1^st Battalion, 5^th Marine Regiment on January 10^th, Dog Company and the rest of the 2^nd Battalion found themselves back on the line but in well-developed defensive positions. The Battalion's Unit Diary for the remainder of January is noteworthy for the number of its "routine day" notations. The days were spent in conducting small patrols, usually no larger than fire team size whose forward movement was restricted to no more than 300 yards forward of the line. Squad size patrols were kept busy making sure the rear of the Battalion was clear of enemy. Night listening posts were maintained in front of the line but these were now called "duckblinds". Training schedules were reintroduced and organized training was again conducted. While this was going on, the enemy limited themselves to small probing attacks conducted most nights and consisting of only two to six or seven enemy soldiers occasionally accompanied by an officer. Most days also had them drop a few 82mm mortar shells on the Marine positions while the Marine forward observers brought mortar, artillery and naval gunfire to bear on targets of opportunity. The naval gunfire was supplied by the 8inch guns of the heavy cruiser St. Paul and the 16 inch guns of the battleship Wisconsin that were firing at their maximum range while steaming off the east coast of Korea.

February was a repeat of January. Small probes by the enemy, small patrols by us with exchanges of supporting arms fire by both. It should be kept in mind that, in spite of the less intensive activity, casualties were being suffered by both sides on a daily basis. A number of impressive changes had also occurred over the winter months. The "thermal boot" had replaced the Marine's footwear which was a great improvement resulting in a much reduced casualty problem from frostbite. A usable armored vest had been developed and a sufficient number shipped to the front lines so that Marines could use them while on patrols and in ambushes and listening posts. And the tactics for use of the helicopter for troop movement and support had been constantly improved and adopted.

The most significant event in February was the Division taking part in Operation Clam-Up, a massive attempt by the UN forces to feign a withdrawal and lure the enemy into sending larger patrols into our front lines, which would hopefully yield prisoners. Following heavy artillery fire on February 10^th, each Regiment's reserve Battalion made daylight marches to the rear and returned after dark at which time the front line was kept dark and silent. The ploy did not work as hoped for since the Marines on the line had to aggressively defend themselves as the enemy patrols attempted to penetrate them and the enemy quickly retreated and resorted to increased artillery support to pay back the deception. The end result was that only a few prisoners were taken although many enemy casualties, both killed and wounded, were inflicted.

From March 1^st through the 18^th Dog Company and the rest of the 2^nd Battalion was assigned the mission of Division reserve. Rear area security, patrolling and a heavy training schedule filled in the time of the Marines. On the 19^th the Battalion rejoined the 7^th Regiment and prepared for a difficult and complex operation - the movement of the 1^st Marine Division from the east coast of Korea to the west coast of the peninsula. The new missions for the Division was to defend the JAMESTOWN Line that straddled the main avenues of approach to Seoul, to prepare fall-back positions on the WYOMING and KANSAS Lines in the event of a major enemy offensive against the south and to be prepared to rescue the UN truce negotiators should the enemy try to trap them at Panmunjom.. Operation Mixmaster was the designation of this difficult move and it was accomplished with great success. The 7^th Marines were one of the first units to be transported by motor transport over difficult mountainous terrain. On arrival at their new defensive locations, the 2^nd Battalion went into regimental reserve and began refurbishing the Regiment's rear areas by constructing adequate personnel shelters for protection against enemy artillery and aircraft and again commenced training.

The shift to the west brought some major differences to Dog Company. The terrain was not as mountainous but filled with small hills and ridges, the enemy was now the CCF and not the NKPA, the front was quiet without the constant enemy patrolling faced in the east and the mission was to defend and "hold at all costs." To better accomplish their mission over its long MLR and under the new conditions, the 1^st Marine Division went through a major reorganization. As part of that change, a number of independent units were formed into the Kimpo Provisional Brigade. This included the 1^st Armored Amphibious Battalion., the 5^th KMC Battalion., the 13^th ROK Security Battalion, a number of additional supporting units and, most importantly, the 2^nd Battalion of the 7^th Marine Regiment as its "maneuver element."

For most of April and May Dog Company took part in extensive training exercises, patrols - many of which were of twenty-four hour duration - and improving defensive positions in the area. Included in the training was an amphibious landing exercise. During this time, to the east, the remainder of the Division spread out along its thirty-five mile long MLR. Approximately 1000 yards in front of the MLR an Outpost Line of Resistance (OPL) was established. The mission assigned the Division was especially difficult because, in addition to the large area to be defended and the unfavorable terrain, there were numerous restrictions placed on troop movement due to the proximity of the Panmunjom truce site and a large number of uncharted mine fields. The Chinese had heavily fortified their positions and, for the first time, had massed artillery opposite the Marine's positions. At first the Marines experienced increasing enemy aggressiveness culminating in late May by a battle conducted by the 1^st Marines to establish better positions for the division that was the heaviest since the previous September with the Chinese at one point firing over 4000 rounds of artillery in a twenty-four hour period. This was followed by a period of relative quiet.

On June 3^rd the 2^nd Battalion was relieved by the 3^rd Battalion. It reverted back to its parent unit, the 7^th Marines, at the same time being placed in regimental reserve. On June 27, the 2^nd Battalion moved back onto the MLR relieving the 1^st Battalion. Dog Company replaced Baker Company on the line. Now began another period of patrolling, conducting ambushes and manning the OPL. On July 6^th a Dog Company sniper tripped a mine while moving down a trail resulting in one Marine killed and three wounded. On the 11^th, members of Dog Company occupying a Combat Outpost (COP) in front of the MLR were attacked by an estimated enemy squad using small arms, automatic weapons and grenades. The attack was repulsed with enemy casualties estimated at two and with one Marine wounded. On the 14^th Dog suffered from one of those unfortunate incidences that can occur so easily in combat - being hit by friendly fire. One of its platoons on a raiding party in front of their Combat Outpost Line (COPL) was mistaken as enemy by other Marines occupying a nearby COP named SIBERIA who fired on them with automatic weapons resulting in one killed and two wounded. On July 17^th it was Dog's time to occupy SIBERIA with one squad. Shortly before midnight the squad was hit be a surprise attack and overrun by a squad of Chinese using automatic weapons and grenades. The Marines on the outpost fought back and called in artillery, 60mm and 81mm mortar fire. The enemy was forced to retreat suffering one killed and two wounded while the Marines had one of their own killed.

A squad from Dog attempted an ambush on the night of the 19^th. They fired at two Chinese moving across their front, wounding both. While attempting to capture the two wounded enemy they drew such heavy fire that they had to break contact sustaining one of their own wounded. Their final action that month was on the 24^th when a reinforced squad was sent out at night to establish an ambush. Seeing movement to their front they fired on an unknown number of enemy troops wounding and capturing one while the remaining enemy escaped without returning fire. On July 26^th the 2^nd Battalion was relieved from its positions on the MLR and went to the rear for a few days of rest and on August 1^st the entire Regiment was placed in Division reserve.

While in reserve fifty percent of the Company's time was spent in training. The training schedule required a full six hours a day of which over half was conducted at night but, in addition, daily patrols had to be sent into the adjoining areas to protect the Division rear from guerrillas and they had to be constantly prepared to move into blocking positions in the event the Chinese mounted a large offensive. The other remaining time, with units taking turns, consisted of constructing defensive positions on Line KANSAS. On September 7^th the 2^nd Battalion moved back on the JAMESTOWN Line relieving the 3^rd Battalion, 5^th Marines.

In the interim, the Chinese had continued to strengthen their positions and intelligence reports indicated that the enemy forces facing the 7^th Marines in their sector of the MLR consisted of two regiments of the 40^th CCF Army numbering 7000 infantry troops plus ten battalions (120 guns) of artillery. The 7^th Marines consisted of 3844 Marines together with medical and communications support. The assigned area they were responsible for was so stretched out that the regimental commander had to put all three Battalions on the line - 2/7 on the left, 3/7 in the center and 1/7 on the right. One company from the 3^rd Battalion was retained as a regimental reserve and was augmented by platoons made up of cooks, bakers, clerks, motor transport and headquarters personnel.

September through the first half of November found Dog Company on the MLR again. With the exception for the fight for "The Hook" on Oct. 26 and 27, enemy activity was considerably lighter than it had been in previous months. The companies took turns sending out combat patrols to their front, occupying the OPL and setting up ambushes. A Dog patrol consisting of a reinforced squad ran into the enemy on the 11^th and suffered one killed in the resultant fire fight while the enemy casualties were counted five counted killed and five additional estimated killed. Successful patrols were also conducted on the 12^th, 13^th, and the 27^th while the Company also sent out sniper teams on the 15^th, 18^th and 30^th in all these instances causing the enemy to suffer casualties. The patrol on the 13^th was to establish an ambush but suffered seven wounded from a grenade set with a trip wire. Other than for that instance, friendly casualties were light. There were a number of instances when the troops on the line were engaged in repulsing small probing attacks, particularly at night. Casualties were also being sustained on a daily basis from the enemy's intermittent mortar and artillery fire that had substantially increased as the year wore on.

On October 16^th a reinforced platoon from Dog Company conducted a raid against enemy positions estimated as a reinforced platoon that was directly opposite a major outpost of ours designated VEGAS. Leaving at 0320 at night they engaged the enemy in a firefight when discovered and called in supporting arms consisting of artillery, 60mm mortars, 81mm mortars and 4.2 mortars. At 0545 the platoon withdrew and returned to its lines at 0630 in the morning. It was estimated that the enemy had suffered seven killed and wounded. Friendly casualties were one killed and fourteen wounded. Squad sized combat patrols from Dog were sent into enemy territory on Oct. 18 and 24 and on Nov. 6^th and a fire team reconnaissance patrol on Oct. 27^th returned with one Chinese prisoner. On Nov. 15^th the 2^nd Battalion went into Division reserve and remained in what had been designated the Camp Rose area for reserve positions and activities until they returned to the MLR on Dec. 21 to relieve the 1^st Battalion, 5^th Marines in the same general area they had been in before.

Although the 2^nd Battalion experienced light enemy activity during this period, there was one exception. In the early morning of Oct. 26^th three Chinese rifle companies attacked outpost RENO that was in the Battalion's assigned zone and just to the left of OP VEGAS that was in front of the Dog Company positions. Unaware that this attack was imminent, Easy Company had sent a reinforced platoon toward RENO. Two of the Chinese rifle companies attempted to quietly move behind the outpost and attack them from the rear Instead, they had unknowingly moved between the Easy platoon and the OP and on starting their assault were caught between the fires of the two Marine forces. The Chinese were forced to withdraw with heavy casualties while the Marines on the OP also easily repulsed a third Chinese company that was attempting a frontal assault. While this was going on the CCF launched a full-scale attack on the part of the MLR labeled the "Hook" that was defended by the 1^st Battalion Marines. The Hook was a deep salient into CCF territory that controlled the Samchon Valley, an avenue of approach into Seoul. The Chinese, using Battalion sized elements made a three pronged attack on the Hook and a two-day battle resulted in failure of the Chinese to force the Marines off their positions even though they had fired 12,500 rounds of artillery on the Marine positions in a 24 hour period and they had to withdraw with heavy casualties suffered on both sides. It was later determined that the attack on the OP RENO had likely been a diversion.

The remainder of the year was relatively quiet along the Marines MLR. 2^nd Battalion and its Dog Company had of course not been alone in fighting the Communists. Toward the end of 1952 the enemy had increased the tempo of their aggressiveness in order to attempt controlling more terrain. The KMCs had been engaged in a series of vicious battles as winter approached, in each instance retaining the upper hand. In mid-November, the British 1^st Commonwealth Division with its Black Watch and reinforcing Canadian Units repulsed a Battalion sized CCF assault. In December the ROK 1^st Division prevented a Chinese attempt to cross the Imjin River and the 2^nd Army Division pushed back a number of CCF attacks in its sector. The Chinese did manage to capture one outpost in the IX Corps area but immediately suffered a major defeat when the Ethiopian Battalion counterattacked and forced a withdrawal. Similar damage was done by the U.S. 40^th and the ROK 5^th Divisions. All in all, 1952 was not a good year for the NKPA and its CCF cohorts.

During the early period of 1953 it seemed the enemy had wilted. Dog Company remained on the line and joined the other units in conducting patrols as ordered and defending their positions but enemy action was very light. Both the Unit History reports issued by the 2^nd Battalion for January and February contained the comment, "Aggressive action by the enemy was practically non existent since the only contacts made with the enemy were as the result of our own aggressive patrolling forward of the MLR. The enemy continued sporadic artillery and mortar fire against the MLR and outpost positions during the entire period, but other than for this, he seemed to be content to remain relatively inactive."

Members of Dog Company, usually a reinforced squad, conducted combat patrols on five occasions in January. In some instances enemy positions were found vacated and the patrols destroyed the bunkers before withdrawing. On two occasions there was small arms fire exchanged with other small enemy elements with the enemy sustaining casualties. The only one resulting in casualties to our side occurred on January 29^th when our patrol got into a fire fight with a well entrenched enemy unit and a second eight-man patrol had to be sent out to help them. By the time contact was broken the enemy had suffered two estimated killed and our troops suffered seven wounded.

Dog Company was engaged on only one day in direct contact with the enemy during the month of February. On the 7^th both Baker and Dog sent out combat patrols in the early evening. Dog was to establish an ambush but both patrols were surprised by larger enemy forces. The Baker patrol suffered nine wounded before being able to disengage and return. Dog's patrol was fired on by an estimated thirty enemy who employed grenades, burp guns and mortars. The patrol returned fire with small arms, automatic weapons and 4.5 rockets and called for artillery and mortar fire. A second fire team-sized unit was sent forward to reinforce them. The firefight lasted almost an hour before the two friendly units were able to break contact. It was estimated that the enemy had suffered at least three killed but the Dog units had five wounded and four missing in action.

Two days later the company joined the rest of the Battalion in regimental reserve where they remained until the 10^th of March. The activities of the Marines continued along the same vein for the remainder of the spring. Times served on the MLR were interspersed with time spent in reserve. The latter was usually in one of the prepared positions behind the MLR such as in Camp Rose, Camp Meyers, Camp Lee, Camp Indianhead, etc. While in these rear locations, not only were heavy training schedules followed, but also the units had to be continually prepared to counterattack enemy incursions into the MLR and were on thirty minute call. It had become the practice for the Division, in order to control the overextended lines assigned to them, to attach company and battalion and even platoon sized units to other organizations from time to time. For example, the 2^nd Battalion was placed under the operational control of the 5^th Marine Regiment for the period from March 10^th until the 30^th when it went into Division reserve with the rest of the 7^th Regiment while Dog Company (Reinforced) but less one platoon was attached to the 3^rd Battalion. The Company's first platoon (reinforced) was attached to the 1^st Battalion, both units remaining on the MLR.

The month of May brought no changes to the pattern being followed by the Division - light enemy action, recurrent casualties from sporadic artillery fire and vigilance along the MLR for a change in the enemy's intentions. In early June the 2^nd Battalion took part in a major amphibious exercise named MARLEX II. On June 4^th the Battalion boarded APA 227, an attack transport ship, and on the morning of the 6^th, as part of a Regimental Combat Team, conducted an amphibious landing in the YONGJONG-NI area. The exercise was successfully completed on the 9^th and Dog Company returned to its reserve position at Camp Indianhead.

It should be noted that during this time in 1953 truce talks were continuing at Panmumjom on almost a daily basis. The negotiators argued over everything - the site of the meeting place, the size of the meeting table, who would sit where, who would attend. The building the meeting was held in straddled the exact line of demarcation that had been agreed to with the line running though the center of the building and table at which the negotiators sat, each on their own side. Lengthy arguments took place even over the size of the flag that each party had set up in a small holder on their side of the table. Contending that the UN flag was bigger than theirs, the Communists representing both the CCF and the NKPA brought in a slightly larger one. This was followed by us bringing an even larger one. And so it went until the representatives of the North brought one so large it wouldn't fit in the room. Men acting like little boys - all this while Marines and soldiers were being killed and maimed.

In early July the 1^st Marine Division was ordered to take responsibility for the I Corp's right sector of the MLR and relieved the 25^th U.S. Army Infantry Division. The 7^th Marine Regiment relieved the 14^th Army Regiment and the Turkish Armed Forces Command and then was placed under the operational control of the 25^th Army Division. The 2^nd Battalion reinforced with attached anti-tank units completed its move into position by the afternoon of July 8^th in a driving rain after a three-hour motor march from Camp Indianhead. Since the loss of OP Vegas in May while that sector of the line had been defended by the U.S. Army and Turkish troops, the west part of the MLR was poorly organized with its two major outposts, BERLIN and EAST BERLIN exposed to enemy observation and access. While the 2^nd Battalion was moving into its final positions with Dog Company on the left, Fox in the middle and Easy on the right, the enemy attacked in force. All three of the companies came under heavy and continuous mortar and artillery barrages. As dark fell a reinforced Chinese Battalion attacked two platoon sized outposts in front of Fox and Easy companies and overran them. This was immediately followed by an attack on outposts BERLIN and EAST BERLIN that were located only 375 yards in front of the MLR. After a short but terrible fight EAST BERLIN was overrun and came under enemy control. Communications with BERLIN had been lost but in the morning it was found that the Marines on that OP had managed to fight off the Chinese. In the morning of the 8^th the Marines counter attacked to regain EAST BERLIN. Another horrific battle ensued with Fox and Easy Companies taking the brunt of the blow. Two companies from the 3^rd Battalion that had been in reserve joined the 2^nd Battalion in the attack with the resulting hand-to-hand combat "literally throwing some of the Chinese off the reverse slope (U.S. Marine Operations in Korea, Vol.5)". With the outpost recovered and with the additional troops supplied by the 3^rd Battalion the Regiment was able to strengthen their hold on the MLR and its two vital outposts. This battle had cost the Regiment nine killed, twelve missing and one hundred and twenty-six wounded. As for the Chinese, there were thirty counted dead and an estimated two hundred more killed and four hundred wounded.

Activity in the 7^th Regimental area again diminished on the days following the battle for the "Berlins". Most patrols and ambush attempts resulted in "no contact." On July 14^th the 2^nd Battalion was relieved by the 3^rd Battalion and returned to Camp LEE to reorganize, and perform rear area patrols. On the night of the 24^th the Chinese launched a massive attack against the 3^rd Battalion's sector and both EAST BERLIN and BERLIN outposts fell to the enemy. Dog Company was sent back to the MLR to reinforce the 3^rd Battalion and prepare for a counterattack. A half hour before the counterattack was to be launched orders were received from I Corps to cancel the attack with the explanation that the outposts were not to be retaken.

At 10:00 A.M on Monday, the 27^th of July 1953 the armistice agreement was signed with a ceasefire to take place at 2200 (10:00 P.M.) Although all fighting was to stop the Unit diaries show that the 2^nd Battalion suffered 15 wounded and 2 missing in action on the 27^th and 7 wounded on the 28^th. Thirty-six months of war ended for the Marines of Dog Company.

The Company remained in Korea until 1955 serving as a blocking force with other UN troops to ensure the security of the DMZ. There continued to be many clashes between the Communist forces on the north side of the DMZ and the UN troops stationed south of it and casualties have continued to be suffered by both sides to this day

The combined UN forces had suffered 996,937 killed, wounded and missing before the armistice was signed. Of these the U.S. forces numbered 136,937 of which 33,629 were killed and 103, 308 wounded. Dog Company suffered 134 killed and 924 wounded.

During the time the 1^st Marine Division fought in Korea, 42 Marines received the Medal of Honor, twenty-nine of them posthumously, one being Navy Corpsman HN3 Richard D. Dewert who served with Dog Company. Two Navy ships carry the names of men who served with D Company. The Frigate USS Richard DeWert (FFG-45) and the Guided Missle Destroyer, USS Chafee (DDG90). Captain John Chafee served as CO of D Company during 1951. Chafee served also as Governor of Rhode Island, Secretary of the Navy and a US Senator, representing Rhode Island.

Was it all worth it? This history is not for the purpose of commenting on the value and results of the war. Suffice to say that the invaders of South Korea were thrown out and are still out. The authors of this all had an opportunity to visit South Korea in recent years. What they found was almost beyond belief. Where to their memory there stood ruined cities, devastated forests and an impoverished populace there now is a thriving democracy with ultra modern cities, and beautiful rural country-sides all inhabited with a free, happy and economically successful population. To their north, separated by the heavily fortified DMZ, lies a bleak country, one of the most despotically ruled and oppressed in the world. Their military, which consist of one of the largest standing armies on earth, continues to this day to cause trouble for their southern neighbors. Mini subs attack southern shipping and land guerillas. Tunnels are dug under the DMZ, large enough to funnel large number of troops into the rear areas of the DMZ that lies only thirty-five miles north of Seoul, the capital - all of which have been discovered, at least so far.

And what did the folks back home think of all this? Across the country, the people were sick of war. Just as in later years, there were doubts as to the value of our young men and women being put in harms way on far distant shores and a precursor as to how they would be received back home. As our servicemen returned home, there were no parades, no crowds greeting them at trains stations or airports. One member of Dog Company remembered, on returning to the States, checking into a hotel in San Francisco after arrival at Treasure Island. When he and a couple of his buddies entered the elevator in their disheveled wool greens, sporting moustaches and that look in their eyes that revealed the world they were seeing was far different from the one they had just left, all the civilians in the elevator shrank away from them. No one said, "Welcome home, Marine". Those that came back shed their greens and khakis and put on jeans or business suits. They raised families, sent kids to college, owned successful businesses, and became executives, entered into politics. One became Secretary of the Navy another a nationally noted author. A large number get together once a year to reminisce and remember.

If you should see a satellite picture taken at night of the Korean Peninsula you will see its southern half brightly lit and, north of a sharply defined line, nothing but darkness. Was it worth it? Let the reader decide.

The 2^nd Battalion, 7^th Marine Regiment returned to Camp Pendleton, CA in March of 1955. In 1957 the phonetic alphabet used by the military to designate units was revised and Dog Company became Delta Company. The Battalion was deployed during June 1965 to Okinawa and from there to Viet Nam where it fought until October 1970 operating in Qui Nhon, Chu Lai, Dai Nang, Dai Loc and An Hoa. In October of 1970 it was relocated to Camp Pendleton and assigned to the 5^th Marine Amphibious Brigade. It was reassigned to the 1^st Marine Division in April 1971. From then through the 1980s it was rotated between the 3^rd Marine Division in Okinawa and other divisions stationed in the U.S. In January, 1990 it was garrisoned at Twentynine Palms, CA from which it participated in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in Southwest Asia from August 1990 to March of 1991. The last location we have for Delta Company, 2^nd Battalion, 7^th Marine Regiment dates from June 2004 when they were stationed in Western Iraq.

The members of Dog Company wish their brothers in Delta Company a safe and successful deployment. Semper Fi and Hoorah!